Since Margaret Dobson moved herself and her children to the castle in 1979, much has changed; though maintaining, running and restoring the castle remains very much a family affair.

Some of the family on the Grand Stairs (2019)

Extended Dobson Family

Around ten family members from three generations of the family live at the castle. The extended family, now numbering over thirty and growing, take active roles in all areas of castle life whether they live locally or hundreds of miles away.

You might have met many of the family as they take weekly Tours, and staff our Craft Fairs, spiritual retreats and other public events but they work extensively behind the scenes too:

managing our holiday let,
running the booking systems for Tours and Events,
contributing to this website,
managing social media,
gardening,
cleaning,
painting,
plastering,
maintaining IT systems,
bookkeeping, and
and in countless other ways.

Who are we?

Generation 1

Alison & Richard

You might find Alison mixing distemper paint, or Richard crawling through the roof space. Or you might know them as the main contact point for weddings and other events.

Or maybe you came across one or other leading a tour. Suffice to say not much happens at the castle without their involvement on some level whether as organisers, caterers or just essential backup.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth had already left home before the family moved to the castle and has never lived in the castle yet is vital to our success. Not least in the Herculean task of masterminding the cafés that support our twice annual craft fairs, and cooking until the early hours to ensure that we have enough for each day.

James & Sharon

Despite living at the far end of the country, for many visitors James is the first family member they will have contact with as he responds to requests to book our Quartermaster's holiday flat and to reserve places on Castle Tours.

Oliver

Multiple reviewers have commented on how much they appreciated castle tours they took with Oliver as their guide. He also manages the Dobson Books collection and is ever present in Café Express during Craft Fairs.

Edmund & Shirley

Often working behind the scenes, day-to-day life at the castle wouldn't be the same without them. They are the on-the-ground contacts for Quartermaster's, lovingly preparing it for each new guest; often to be found hauling furniture around the building to prepare rooms for events; and have a key role supporting Elizabeth with Craft Fair catering.

William

Each Craft Fair involves over 70 stallholders, each of which have their own particular requirements. This adds up to a lot of email traffic that William handles expertly.

Mary-Jo

Mary-Jo has the less-than-straightforward task of ensuring that the books balance, the VAT is calculated correctly and that the castle remains a going concern. She copes with this admirably.

Judith

A castle has a lot of storage space. But ours has never been so well ordered and displayed, let alone moved so efficiently to the right rooms at the right times as they are now that Judith has taken on her "housekeeper" role.

Generation 2

Tom & Ulli

Tom knows the ins and outs, nooks and crannies of the castle better than anyone and is key to keeping the place in good condition. There's not very much he doesn't know about the maintenance required and what there is he learns fast.

Ulli runs the ever popular Café Burgschneider in the castle gatehouse four days a week.

Pip

Since 2021, Pip has been the main organiser of our Craft Fairs, leading the recovery after Covid. As an artist themselves, they double up as exhibitor during the event.

Clare & Mark

Organising family fun events such as Dragons Arise and Jemima Puddle-Duck, and supporting with Craft Fair organisation, Clare doesn't let the physical distance from the castle prevent full involvement.

Mark never expected a career in marketing, but he can be found running social media campaigns, managing ticketing, and writing website copy.

Will & Jordan

Most likely to be spotted in bright overalls helping manage the car parking during Craft Fairs. Whether reviving childhood games of hide and seek in the castle rooms, or organising bottomless brunch, they are key players in keeping the social side of Gen 2 alive.

Ruth

Keeping Quartermasters holiday flat clean, tidy and ready for the next guest needs a lot of care and attention to detail.

Jonathan & Laura

Helping out on the gate and in Café Express, and a solid shift portering for stallholders, they help make the Brancepeth Castle Craft Fair the success it is. Moving furniture around the castle for different events is heavy work and the distances surprisingly large, so Jonathan's help is always appreciated.

Matt & Emma

Matt put his IT skills to the test when masterminding the installation of a Wifi network through much of the castle. Though the thick stone walls were not designed for such technology, it has proved itself invaluable. Both involved in many ways.

Adam

We run two pop-up cafés within each Craft Fair, but only one family member regularly works in both of them. Thanks Adam! We won't ask which is the best.

Ben

A regular on the Craft Fair gate, ensuring that those critical first impressions are good ones.

John & Susie

John manages to make impossible things look easy! And sometimes easy things seem impossible. Brings life to the castle in a way few others can.

Susie has brought style to our publicity; if you've noticed a glossy colour flyer recently, that was her.

Henry

Not merely the Sandwich King during craft fairs, he puts in long shifts carrying stallholder equipment to and from their cars. Possibly the best uncle ever.

Generation 3

Currently six and growing. The baton will come to them in good time, hopefully they will be happy to take it on!

The Family